Portable changer-surface for infants

ABSTRACT

Folding planar structure for use as a changing surface for infants, particularly while away from home. A plural-part rigid board assembly includes a unitary cushioning pad cemented to the parts and hinging them together, and has sliding rod structure for board-to-board connection holding the three parts rigidly in plane when in use; parts of the sliding rod structure are always in view and evidence by position whether the assembly is safely secured together. When folded for storage the sliding rod assembly provides handle structure for carrying and also stand structure preventing the assembly from getting wet or soiled when rested on a floor or leaned against a wall.

This invention relates generally to infant furniture and particularly tofolding furniture for use assembled into planar configuration aschanging and bathing furniture for infants.

In the prior art various assemblies relating to infant furniture havebeen disclosed, including those in the following U.S. Pat. Nos.

3,253,293 TO E. George et al, 5-3-66

3,162,864 TO A. J. Oullette, 12-29-64

2,483,077 TO J. C. Walsh, 9-27-49

3,617,418 TO Robert C. Miller, 11-2-71

George et al disclose a portable assembly of rectangular units whichhave hinge connection and can be tied folded for transport.

Ouellette discloses an infant bathing support with supportive straps forholding an infant and securing the board.

Walsh discloses a bathtub cushion of plural planar rectangular elementsfoldably hinged together with means for holding the elements in apredetermined adjustment relative to each other, and suction cupstructure on the lower side.

Miller discloses an example of folded plastic sheet.

However, the present invention is believed to provide substantial,unique advantages including advantages indicated by the followingobjects of the invention.

Principal objects of the invention are to provide a portable changingsurface for infants which is physically safe when set-up for use andgives visual evidence of such safety, which can be exceptionallywet-and-soil resistant when set-up and when folded for carriage orstorage while at the same time particularly handy for carriage, inconsiderable part as result of unique dual-purpose rod structure; whichis light weight, damage resistant, sanitary, size adaptable, economicalto produce, ship and purchase, easy to use, and is attractive inappearance.

In brief summary given for cursive description only and not aslimitation the invention includes plural panels hinged together andhaving longitudinally slidable rod structure for maintaining the panelsco-planar.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomemore readily apparent on examination of the following description,including the drawings in which like reference numerals refer to likeparts:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view showing two units of the inventionrespectively set up for use and folded for carriage, in an environmentrepresenting conditions encountered in travel with infants;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view showing typical details of the underside ofthe invention in folded configuration;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the invention set up for use; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a further embodiment.

FIG. 1 shows the invention 10 set up for use in changing or otherwiseattending an infant under conditions less than ideal frequentlyencountered in travel, as in a public toilet in which the onlypracticable support above the floor is a washstand W. The inventioncomprises three rigid rectangular and stably planar members 20, 22, 24which may be nearly identical for economy in production and for economyin storage space when folded, and may be of lightweight structuralplastic.

A pad 26 cemented to the planar members unites them in edge-to-edgealignment, preferably with a slight gap between. The pad may be ofsealed lightweight foam rubber, foam plastic with a tough, imperviousplastic cover, or other suitable rubber-like material relatively pliablebut substantially cushioning.

Maintaining the three planar members in-plane with each other to form anoverall planar working surface are two rod structures 28, 30, both inthe form of a square "U," longitudinally slidable in parallel-spacedapertures 32, 34 in each end planar member. These are of a length topass into similar apertures 36, 38 in the central planar member, whenfully inserted to the first or maintaining position. Access foroperation of the rod structures is at the ends, so that reaching underthe unit is never required for setting up. or for folding by retractionof the rod structures to the second or fold position.

A pair of straps 40, 42 which may be fixed on opposite sides of thecentral planar member, provide for securing an infant to the unit.

Unit 10 at lower left shows folded configuration, with the ends orhandles 28', 30' formed by the base of each squared "U"-shaped rod,extended as carrying handles, in the retracted position. The planarmembers may form a "Z" shape in side view when folded. Advantageouslythe lower handle 30' serves as a stand or means for preventing the unitfrom taking up water or soil from the floor. Similarly, the upper handle28' when the unit is leaned at an angle, stands-off the remainder of theunit from the wall, so that it is easy to prevent fouling the cushionwhen the unit must be set down in such environments.

FIG. 2 shows flat suction cups 44 on the underside of each planar memberto retard slippage, and further indicates how easily the foldedconfiguration slips into a bag B when held by a handle. Details of theself-storage tie using the straps also appear.

FIG. 3 illustrates further details of the relations of the parts inset-up configuration. The handles fit flush with the ends so thataccidental retraction is prevented; the rod is preferably of roundcross-section, to provide a grip for retraction when flush.

Additionally the larger ends 28" on the rods prevent pulling out beyondcounterbore 32' in the end planar members. Any other conventionalarrangement can be used for the same purpose.

Because the overall structure is substantially symmetrical when set-upfor use, the rod structures being opposed in the opposite ends and theinfant securance being generally at the middle, confusion and loss oftime are minimized and the unit can easily and safely be set up (orfolded) in the dark, the positions of the parts being discerned bytouch.

Size for the unit may be conveniently 12 × 24 inches (30 × 61 cm)overall, foldable to approximately one third the length, or to theapproximate dimension of 16 × 8-plus inches.

FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment, 400, providing for all pad portionsto fold inward for protection outside by planar members. Pad portion 426is separate from the supporting planar member 420 and folds over theother pad portions first so that it lies between them when they fold asbefore described, and planar member 420 has pivotal connection 446 onthe upper side, permitting it to fold in the opposite direction (arrows)for snug storage secured by suction cups against the adjacent planarmember 422. Strap structure 440 secures the remainder of the unit. Thusa first of the plural planar members folds around to securance against asecond such member, and the pad portion left unsupported folds inwardlyover a second pad portion, which is then covered by a third pad portionwith a third planar member over it.

In conclusion, the ease of assembly, economy, safety and sanitation ofthe invention will now be apparent together with other advantages suchas trim appearance, durability, convenience, comfort for infants andsimplicity.

The invention is not to be construed as limited to the particular formsdisclosed herein, since these are to be regarded as illustrative ratherthan restrictive. It is, therefore, to be understood taht the inventionmay be practiced within the scope of the claims otherwise than asspecifically described.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States LettersPatent is:
 1. In a portable structure having plural members unfoldablein end-to-end configuration to form a surface upon which to supportinfants for changing, bathing and the like, the improvement comprising:means hinging said members together; and end accessible means formaintaining, at a first position, said plural members aligned whenunfolded in end-to-end configuration, and for permitting, at a secondposition, folding of said plural members about the hinging means, theend-accessible means comprising a rod structure at each end of saidconfiguration longitudinally slidable relative to said plural members inrespective apertures therealong from said first position in which saidrod structures together engage all said plural members to said secondposition in which each rod structure retracts to a respective end ofsaid end-to-end configuration for permitting said folding.
 2. In aportable structure as recited in claim 1, means for preventing saidportable structure from taking up water or soil from a floor on whichset, comprising a portion of the rod structure extending as a standtherefrom in said second position.
 3. In a portable structure as recitedin claim 2, means for securing an infant to the portable structure,comprising flexible elongate means fixed substantially at a middleportion of the elongate structure in position for retaining the portablestructure in folded configuration when folded.
 4. In a portablestructure as recited in claim 2, said rod structure comprising squared"U"-shape with the base of the squared "U" shape forming handlestructure for carrying the portable structure.
 5. In a portablestructure as recited in claim 4, all said plural members being planar.6. In a portable structure as recited in claim 5, all said pluralmembers forming a "Z" shape when the portable structure is folded.
 7. Ina portable structure as recited in claim 2, the means for hingingcomprising a cushioning pad covering and affixed to all said pluralmembers.
 8. In a portable structure as recited in claim 2, first, secondand third of said plural members, a pad positionable for support by allsaid plural members, a first of said plural members foldable on a saidmeans hinging to a position against a second of said plural members,leaving a first portion of said pad unsupported, said first portion ofthe pad flexibly foldable over a second portion of the pad with a thirdportion of the pad, having a third of said plural members thereover,proportioned for folding over the second portion of the pad.